Process for realizing a system for recovering heat, in particular based on the seebeck&#39;s effect, and corresponding system

ABSTRACT

An embodiment of a process for realizing a system for recovering heat is described, the process comprising the steps of: formation on a substrate of a plurality of L-shaped down metal structures; deposition of a dielectric layer on the substrate and the plurality of L-shaped down metal structures by using a screen printing approach; definition and opening in the dielectric layer of upper contacts and lower contacts of the L-shaped down metal structures; formation of a plurality of L-shaped up metal structures being connected to the plurality of L-shaped down metal structure in correspondence of the upper and lower contacts so as to form a plurality of serially connected thermocouples, each comprising at least one L-shaped down metal structure and at least one L-shaped up metal structure, being made of different metal materials and interconnected at a junction, the serially connected thermocouples thus realizing the system for recovering heat.

PRIORITY CLAIM

The instant application claims priority to Italian Patent Application No. MI2009A002313, filed Dec. 28, 2009, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

An embodiment relates to a process for realizing a system for recovering heat.

An embodiment also relates to a system for recovering heat.

An embodiment particularly, but not exclusively, relates to a process for realizing a system for recovering heat, in particular based on the Seebeck's effect and comprising a plurality of thermocouples and the following description is made with reference to this field of application for convenience of explanation only.

BACKGROUND

As it is well known, in the continuous research aimed to maximize the utilization of the electric power which is employed for normal human activities, the recovery of the heat, being produced as a secondary effect in these activities, is one of the keypoints to optimize the energy rendering and also to reduce the total power consumption in any kind of apparatus.

For this reason, several systems have been studied over the years, usually indicated as “scavengers”, which are able to recover the heat generated by an operation performed by using electric energy.

Many known solutions, unfortunately, have a low efficiency value (for a maximum of around 10%), calculated as the amount of recovered heat, taking into account of the overall quantity of available heat.

It has been observed that solutions based on the Seebeck's effect are typically more efficient in term of energy balance because they allow a one-way and direct transformation of the heat into electric power.

The Seebeck's effect is in fact a thermoelectric effect providing a direct conversion of temperature differences into an electric voltage.

In particular, since metals respond differently to temperature, it is possible to create a current loop, when a closed loop is formed of two metals being joined and having opposite ends in two places with a temperature difference. In fact, a voltage is created in the presence of a temperature difference between two different metals or semiconductors, a continuous current then flowing in the conductors if they form a complete loop.

The Seebeck's effect is commonly used in a device called thermocouple (because it is made from a coupling or junction of materials, usually metals) to directly measure a temperature difference or to measure an absolute temperature by setting one of its ends to a known temperature.

A thermocouple based on the Seebeck's effect may be also used, working in an opposite way, for the production of electrical power by converting a gradient of temperatures into electricity, thus being an efficient system for recovering heat, as above indicated.

Also efficient systems based on the Seebeck's effect are, however, bound by the underlying physical principle which is linked to the physical-chemical nature of the materials being used to form the thermocouple, and also depends on the difference of temperatures between the thermocouple ends, such that the problem of a low efficiency may also arise in these systems.

SUMMARY

An embodiment is a process for realizing a system for recovering heat based on the Seebeck's effect having structural and functional characteristics which allow optimizing and to increasing their efficiency by maximizing the use of a thermal gradient and, at a same time, reducing the resistance of the system so obtained, which has thus an improved rendering, in this way overcoming the limits which still affect systems realized according to the prior art.

An embodiment maximizes the areas capable of picking up the available heat of a system for recovering heat by using a serial connection of a high number of devices for recovering heat, in particular thermocouples. It may be observed that an embodiment of a system comprising the serially connected thermocouples may also have a reduced transmission of heat in the corresponding junctions.

An embodiment of a process for realizing a system for recovering heat comprises the steps of:

-   -   formation on a substrate of a plurality of L-shaped down metal         structures;     -   deposition of a dielectric layer on said substrate and said         plurality of L-shaped down metal structures by using a screen         printing approach;     -   definition and opening in said dielectric layer of upper         contacts and lower contacts of said L-shaped down metal         structures; and     -   formation of a plurality of L-shaped up metal structures being         connected to said plurality of L-shaped down metal structure in         correspondence of said upper and lower contacts         so as to form a plurality of serially connected thermocouples,         each comprising at least one L-shaped down metal structure and         at least one L-shaped up metal structure, being made of         different metal materials and interconnected at a junction, said         serially connected thermocouples thus realizing said system for         recovering heat.

More in particular, an embodiment may comprise the following supplemental and optional features, taken alone or in combination when needed.

According to an embodiment, said step of deposition of a dielectric layer by using a screen printing approach is performed on a substrate, being made of on a material chosen between silicon, ceramics, glass, plastic, and the like.

According to an embodiment, said step of deposition of said dielectric layer comprises a step of depositing dielectric paste formed by means of materials having a low electrical and thermal conductivity.

In particular, yet according to an embodiment, said step of deposition of said dielectric layer comprises a step of depositing a dielectric layer having resistance value greater than approximately 10 GΩ/sq/mil, for example between approximately 10 and 20 GΩ/sq/mil and a thermal coefficient smaller that approximately 1.25 W/(mK), for example between approximately 1.04 W/(mK) and 1.25 W/(mK).

Further according to an embodiment, said step of deposition of said dielectric layer comprises a step of depositing of approximately 50-100 μm, for example approximately 100 μm.

Moreover, according to an embodiment, said step of formation of said L-shaped down metal structures comprises a step of deposition and definition of a first metal layer on said substrate.

According to an embodiment, said step of formation of said L-shaped up metal structures further comprises a step of deposition and definition of a second metal layer, being different from said first metal layer.

Moreover, according to an embodiment, said step of deposition and definition of said first metal layer on said substrate comprises the steps of:

-   -   patterning of said first metal layer by using a first         photoresist layer and a photolithographic technique to realize         first and second islands of said first metal layer on said         substrate being suitably separated from one another;     -   deposition of a second photoresist layer and subsequent         patterning by using a photolithographic technique, said second         photoresist layer covering only partially said first and second         islands and an entire portion of said substrate being left         exposed between such islands; and     -   removal of said second photoresist layer with the formation of         said first and a second down metal structure on said substrate,         being L-shaped and separate by a gap in correspondence with said         portion of said substrate being left exposed between said first         and second islands.

According to another embodiment, said step of definition and opening in said dielectric layer of upper contacts and lower contacts comprises the steps of:

-   -   deposition of a third photoresist layer on said dielectric         layer,     -   patterning of said third photoresist layer, defining therein a         plurality of openings in correspondence of upper ends of said         L-shaped down metal structures;     -   etching and removal of said third photoresist layer, thus         defining said upper contacts;     -   deposition of a fourth photoresist layer, also inside said upper         contacts;     -   patterning of said fourth photoresist layer defining a further         plurality of openings in correspondence of lower ends of said         L-shaped down metal structures; and     -   etching and removal of said fourth photoresist layer, thus         defining said lower contacts.

In particular, according to an embodiment, said step of etching and removal of said fourth photoresist layer also defines first and second internal dielectric portions and first and second external dielectric portions of said dielectric layer, said first internal dielectric portion being positioned on a first down metal structure and in contact with a first L-shaped up metal structure, said first external dielectric portion being positioned between said first L-shaped up metal structure and said substrate and in contact with said first down metal structure as well as to a second down metal structure, said second internal dielectric portion being positioned on said second down metal structure and in contact with said first L-shaped up metal structure as well with a second L-shaped up metal structure, and said second external dielectric portion being positioned between said second L-shaped up metal structure and said substrate and in contact with said second down metal structure.

According to yet another embodiment, said step of formation of said L-shaped up metal structures comprises the steps of.

-   -   deposition of said second metal layer on said dielectric layer         and within said upper and lower contacts;     -   patterning of said second metal layer by using a fifth         photoresist layer and a photolithographic technique;     -   etching and removal of said fifth photoresist layer, thus         defining said L-shaped up metal structures, being connected to         said L-shaped down metal structures.

According to an embodiment, said step of formation of said L-shaped up metal structures forms said L-shaped up metal structures in such a way that a lower end of a first L-shaped up metal structure is connected to a corresponding lower end of a first down metal structure and an upper end of said first L-shaped up metal structure is connected to an upper end of a second down metal structure, in turn having a lower end connected to a lower end of a second L-shaped up metal structure.

In particular, according to an embodiment, said step of formation of said L-shaped down metal structures comprises a step of deposition of aluminium as said first metal layer.

Moreover, according to an embodiment, said step of formation of said L-shaped up metal structures comprises a step of deposition of gold as said second metal layer.

An embodiment also includes a system for recovering heat of the type comprising a plurality of thermocouples, each comprising an L-shaped down metal structure and an L-shaped up metal structure being interconnected in correspondence of a first junction, wherein said thermocouples are realized on a substrate by using a first and a second metal and connected in a serial mode covering a wide area of said substrate in a serpentine-like geometry by using an embodiment of a process as previously described.

According to an embodiment, said substrate is made on a material chosen between silicon, ceramics, glass, plastic and the like.

According to an embodiment, said L-shaped down and up metal structures of each of said thermocouples are orthogonal to each other.

According to an embodiment, said L-shaped down and up metal structures of each of said thermocouples are in line with each other.

Furthermore, according to an embodiment, said thermocouples are dimensioned to minimize their contact resistance, the resistivity of the L-shaped down and up metal structures and the thermal conductivity of the thermocouples as a whole.

In particular, according to an embodiment, said L-shaped metal down structure have a length between approximately 200 and 800 μgm, for example approximately 600 μm, a width between approximately 100 and 200 μm, for example approximately 150 μm and a thickness between approximately 25 and 50 μm, for example approximately 50 μm, and said L-shaped metal up structure have a length between approximately 50 and 150 μm, for example approximately 100 μm, a width between approximately 50 and 150 μm, for example approximately 100 μm and a thickness between approximately 50 and 100 μm, for example approximately 100 μm.

According to an embodiment, said L-shaped down metal structures of said thermocouples are made on aluminium.

According to an embodiment, said L-shaped up metal structures of said thermocouples are made on gold.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Characteristics and advantages of a process and of a system for recovering heat according to the invention will be apparent from the following description of one or more embodiments thereof given by way of indicative and non-limiting example with reference to the annexed drawings.

In such drawings:

FIGS. 1A-1I schematically show the different steps of a process for realizing a system for recovering heat according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 schematically shows a three-dimensional view of a device for recovering heat, in particular a single thermocouple, of a system according to an embodiment as obtained by an embodiment of the process of FIGS. 1A-1I;

FIGS. 3A and 3B schematically show a schematic layout view and an enlarged view of an embodiment of a system for recovering heat as obtained by an embodiment of the process of FIGS. 1A-1I; and

FIGS. 4A and 4B schematically show a schematic layout view and an enlarged view of another embodiment of a system for recovering heat as obtained by an embodiment of the process of FIGS. 1A-1I.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to such figures, and in particular to FIGS. from 1A to 1I, in the following lines an embodiment of a process for realizing a system 15 for recovering heat will be described.

It is noted that the process steps being described hereinafter may not be for a complete manufacturing process of an integrated circuit. An embodiment may be carried out along with the manufacturing techniques of integrated circuits being usually employed in the field, and only those process steps being necessary to comprise an embodiment may be described.

Moreover, figures showing schematic views of integrated circuit portions during the manufacturing may not be drawn to scale, being on the contrary drafted so as to emphasise important features of one or more embodiments.

An embodiment starts from a goal of improving or optimizing the efficiency of a system for recovering heat, in particular based on the Seebeck's effect, by using the available heat energy, and thus by widening the areas being capable of picking up the available heat.

As will be clear from the following the description, an embodiment of a proposed process for realizing a system for recovering heat, in particular based on the Seebeck's effect, may allow overcoming two main difficulties being encountered:

a) realizing large contact areas of the metal junctions of an employed thermocouple to obtain a lower-resistance thermal transmission in the junctions themselves to increase the speed at which a temperature difference develops in the thermocouple ends, and thus to obtain a consequent fast reaching of an undesired thermal balance;

b) on the contrary, reducing the contact areas of the thermocouple metal junctions would increase their contact resistance with a consequent equally undesired potential loss due to the Joule effect.

As will be clarified by the following description, an embodiment arranges different conventional and innovative techniques for realizing on a wide area a system 15 for recovering heat by producing electrical power based on the Seebeck's effect. According to an embodiment, a serial connection of a high number of single devices 10 for recovering heat, in particular thermocouples, is realized in order to optimise the heat recovering and to reduce, at the same time, the heat transmission in the metal junctions realizing such thermocouples.

In particular, with reference to the FIGS. 1A to 1I, an embodiment of a process for realizing a system 15 for recovering heat, in particular based on the Seebeck's effect, comprises the steps of:

-   -   deposition on a substrate 1 of a first metal layer 2, in         particular an aluminium layer and subsequent patterning of the         first metal layer 2 by using a first photoresist layer 3 and a         photolithographic technique, as shown in FIG. 1A; after the         photolithography, a first 2′ and a second island 2″ of the first         metal layer 2 are obtained, being suitably separated one another     -   deposition of a second photoresist layer 4 and subsequent         patterning by using a photolithographic technique, the second         photoresist layer 4 covering only partially the first and second         islands, 2′ and 2″, of the first metal layer 2 and the entire         portion of the substrate 1 being left exposed between such         islands, as shown in FIG. 1B;     -   removal of the second photoresist layer 4 with the formation of         a first 2A and a second down metal structure 2B on the substrate         1, such down metal structures 2A and 2B being L-shaped and         separate by a gap 4A in correspondence with the portion of the         substrate 1 being left exposed between the islands 2′ and 2″ of         the first metal layer 2, as shown in FIG. 1C;     -   deposition of a dielectric layer 5, in particular a dielectric         paste, on the first and second down metal structures, 2A and 2B,         as well on the substrate 1 being left exposed outside said         structures, for instance in correspondence of the gap 4, by         using a screen printing approach, followed by a deposition of a         third photoresist layer 6, being thus patterned defining therein         a plurality of openings, 6A, 6B in correspondence of upper ends         of the L-shaped down metal structures 2A and 2B, as shown in         FIG. 1D;     -   etching and removal of the third photoresist layer 6, thus         defining a first 7A and a second upper contact 7B of the first         and second L-shaped down metal structures, 2A and 2B,         respectively, as shown in FIG. 1E;     -   deposition of a fourth photoresist layer 8, also inside the         first and second upper contacts, 7A and 7B, being thus patterned         in order to define a further plurality of openings, 8A, 8B in         correspondence of lower ends of the L-shaped down metal         structures, 2A and 2B, as shown in FIG. 1F;     -   etching and removal of the fourth photoresist layer 8, thus         defining a first 9A and a second lower contact 9B of the first         and second L-shaped down metal structures 2A and 2B,         respectively, as well as a first 13A and a second internal         dielectric portion 13B and a first 14A and second external         dielectric portion 14B of said dielectric layer 5, as shown in         FIG. 1G;     -   deposition of a second metal layer 12, being different from the         first metal layer 2, in particular a gold layer, and subsequent         patterning of the second metal layer 12 by using a fifth         photoresist layer 11 and a photolithographic technique, as shown         in FIG. 1H;     -   etching and removal of the fifth photoresist layer 11, thus         defining a first 12A and a second L-shaped up metal structure         126, being connected to the first and second L-shaped down metal         structures 2A and 2B in such a way to form respective metal         loops, as shown in FIG. 1I.

In an embodiment, the deposition of a dielectric layer 5 by using a screen printing approach may allow one to use any kind of substrate 1, being made of on a material chosen between silicon, ceramics, glass, plastic and the like, for example silicon.

In particular, the screen printing approach is derived from an embodiment of a printing technique that uses a woven mesh to support an ink-blocking stencil forming open areas of mesh that transfer ink as a sharp-edged image onto a substrate. In the electronic circuit manufacturing field, the screen printing comprises a transfer of a paste onto a substrate by extrusion through a patterned screen mesh.

Using a screen printing approach makes the process more versatile than a traditional one since the surface may not have to be printed under pressure, unlike etching or lithography, and it may not have to be planar, offering capabilities that may not be achievable by wet chemical and photolithographic methods.

As a result of the above steps sequence, an embodiment allows obtaining a plurality of devices for recovering heat, in particular thermocouples 10 comprising an L-shaped down metal structure and an L-shaped up metal structure.

In particular, the lower end of the first L-shaped up metal structure 12A is connect to a corresponding lower end of the first down metal structure 2A, while the upper end of the first L-shaped up metal structure 12A is connected to the upper end of the second down metal structure 2B, in turn having the lower end connected to the lower end of the second L-shaped up metal structure 12B.

Moreover, the first internal dielectric portion 13A is positioned on the first down metal structure 2A and in contact with the first L-shaped up metal structure 12A while the first external dielectric portion 14A is positioned between the first L-shaped up metal structure 12A and the substrate 1 and in contact with the first down metal structure 2A as well as to the second down metal structure 2B.

In a similar way, the second internal dielectric portion 13B is positioned on the second down metal structure 2B and in contact with the first L-shaped up metal structure 12A as well with the second L-shaped up metal structure 12B while the second external dielectric portion 14B is positioned between the second L-shaped up metal structure 12B and the substrate 1 and in contact with the second down metal structure 2B.

It is noted that the relative terms “up”, “down”, “upper”, and “lower” have been used considering the substrate 1 as a base level of the system 15 for recovering heat and the development direction of the multilayer structure above the substrate 1 as increasing from the substrate. The down metal structures 2A and 2B are thus closer to the substrate 1 with respect to the L-shaped up metal structures 12A and 12B.

In its most general terms, an embodiment comprises the following steps:

-   -   formation on a substrate 1 of a plurality of L-shaped down metal         structures 2A, 2B;     -   deposition of a dielectric layer 5 on the substrate 1 and the         plurality of L-shaped down metal structures 2A, 2B, by using a         screen printing approach;     -   definition and opening in the dielectric layer 5 of upper         contacts 7A, 7B and lower contacts 9A, 9B of the L-shaped down         metal structures, 2A, 2B     -   formation of a plurality of L-shaped up metal structures 12A,         12B being connected to the plurality of L-shaped down metal         structure 2A, 2B in correspondence of the upper and lower         contacts, 7A, 7B and 9A, 9B.

In particular, the step of formation of the L-shaped down metal structures 2A and 2B comprises a step of deposition and definition of the first metal layer 2 (also indicated as first metal level).

Moreover, in an embodiment, the step of deposition of a dielectric layer 5 is proceeded by a step of removal of the first resist layer 3.

Also, the dielectric layer 5 may be realized by a dielectric paste formed by means of materials having a low electrical and thermal conductivity, i.e. a high resistance and a low thermal coefficient. In an embodiment, the dielectric layer 5 has resistance value greater than 10 GΩ/sq/mil, for example between 10 and 20 GΩ/sq/mil, and a thermal coefficient smaller than 1.25 W/(mK), for example between 1.04 W/(mK) and 1.25 W/(mK). Suitable materials for the dielectric layer 5 include UV curable pastes, such as the 5018 UV curable paste by DuPont.

Finally, in an embodiment, the step of formation of the L-shaped up metal structures 12A and 12B comprises a step of deposition and definition of the second metal layer 12 (also indicated as second metal level).

In this way, the plurality of devices for recovering heat, in particular thermocouples 10 being thus formed are interconnected in a serial mode in order to realize an embodiment of the system 15 for recovering heat.

An embodiment of a device for recovering heat, in particular an embodiment of a thermocouple 10 so obtained is shown in FIG. 2 in a 3-D view.

In particular, the thermocouple 10 comprises an L-shaped down metal structure 2 and an L-shaped up metal structure 12, being interconnected in correspondence of a first junction 10A. Moreover, the L-shaped down metal structure 2 is also connected to an L-shaped metal up structure of a previous thermocouple in the system 15, while the L-shaped up metal structure 12 is also connected to a L-shaped metal down structure of a following thermocouple in the system 15, the relative terms “previous” and “following” having been used with reference to the representation of the FIG. 2 L-shaped down metal structure 2.

The thermocouple 10, during its operate, has the metal structures 2 and 12 at different temperatures, T1 and T2 in FIG. 2, a difference being set between these temperatures (for instance, T1<T2 as indicated in FIG. 2).

According to an embodiment, the system 15 for recovering heat comprises several thermocouples 10 connected in a serial mode. In particular, the system 15 for recovering heat so obtained is able to produce electric power when a difference of temperature is established between its surface and its back side, i.e. between the L-shaped down metal structures 2 and the L-shaped up metal structures 12 forming their serially connected thermocouples 10.

In an embodiment the serially connected thermocouples 10 may be realized in order to cover a wide area of the substrate 1, so as to improve the efficiency of the system 15 for recovering heat as a whole.

FIGS. 3A and 4A show respective embodiments of serially connected thermocouples 10 of the system 15 for recovering heat.

More in detail, as shown in FIG. 3A, according to an embodiment of the system 15 for recovering heat, the serially connected thermocouples 10 are aligned in a serpentine manner, the L-shaped down and up metal structures, 2 and 12, being orthogonal to each other, as shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 3B.

According to another embodiment of the system 15 for recovering heat as shown in FIG. 4A, the serially connected thermocouples 10 are also aligned in a serpentine manner, the L-shaped down and up metal structures, 2 and 12, being, however, in line with each other, as shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 4B.

It is noted that the design of an embodiment of a system for recovering heat may be realized by taking into account the overall resistivity and the different contributions in terms of thermal management.

In particular, a serpentine-like geometry of the system 15 for recovering heat has been used to provide a wide area system and the single thermocouples 10 are dimensioned to minimize their contact resistance as well as the resistivity of the tracks of metal (the first and second metal levels) and the thermal conductivity of the thermocouples themselves. In particular, the L-shaped metal down structures 2 have a length between approximately 200 and 800 μm, for example approximately 600 μm, a width between approximately 100 and 200 μm, for example approximately 150 μm and a thickness between approximately 25 and 50 μm, for example approximately 50 μm, while the L-shaped metal up structures 12 have a length between approximately 50 and 150 μm, for example approximately 100 μm, a width between approximately 50 and 150 μm, for example approximately 100 μm and a thickness between approximately 50 and 100 μm, for example approximately 100 μm.

In summary, an embodiment allows obtaining a system for recovering heat comprising a plurality of thermocouples being serially connected and realized on a wide area and being able to convert a difference of temperature in to electrical power, the system 15 for recovering heat being formed on any kind of substrate 1.

In particular, the system 15 for recovering heat according to an embodiment may be realized on substrates made of different materials (as ceramics, glass, plastic, etc.) as well as on a conventional silicon substrate. In this latter case, the traditional techniques of manufacturing microelectronic devices may be used.

Also according to an embodiment, a mix and match of different processes due to the different materials being used may give the possibility of having a large flexibility and versatility of the process, in particular allowing the realize of an embodiment of the system 15 for recovering heat also from unconventional materials, the serpentine-like geometry providing a wide area system.

Moreover, the design of an embodiment of a system for recovering heat is realized taking into account the overall resistivity and the different contributions in terms of thermal management, the single thermocouples being dimensioned so as to minimize their contact resistance as well as the resistivity of the tracks of metal and the thermal conductivity of the thermocouples themselves.

To this end, a dielectric layer may be realized by a dielectric paste formed by means of materials having a low electrical and thermal conductivity.

Finally, in an embodiment, the serially connected thermocouples on a wide area provides for an optimum use of the available heat, the system for recovering heat being thus an efficient system using the heat produced by different sources (being thus at different temperatures), to produce electric power.

The process according to an embodiment may be also used to produce material for the building (e.g., of tiles) to use in environments wherein temperature gradients are present.

An embodiment of such a thermocouple may be disposed on an integrated circuit that is coupled to another integrated circuit, e.g., a processor, to form a system.

Furthermore, an embodiment of such a thermocouple may be included in building materials or components (e.g., title), across which a temperature differential may exist.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Furthermore, where an alternative is disclosed for a particular embodiment, this alternative may also apply to other embodiments even if not specifically stated. 

1. A process for realizing a system for recovering heat comprising the steps of: formation on a substrate of a plurality of L-shaped down metal structures; deposition of a dielectric layer on said substrate and said plurality of L-shaped down metal structures by using a screen printing approach; definition and opening in said dielectric layer of upper contacts and lower contacts of said L-shaped down metal structures: formation of a plurality of L-shaped up metal structures being connected to said plurality of L-shaped down metal structure in correspondence of said upper and lower contacts so as to form a plurality of serially connected thermocouples, each comprising at least one L-shaped down metal structure and at least one L-shaped up metal structure, being made of different metal materials and interconnected at a junction, said serially connected thermocouples thus realizing said system for recovering heat.
 2. The process according to claim 1, wherein said step of deposition of a dielectric layer by using a screen printing approach is performed on a substrate being made of on a material chosen between silicon, ceramics, glass, plastic and the like.
 3. The process according to claim 2, wherein said step of deposition of said dielectric layer comprises a step of depositing dielectric paste formed by means of materials having a low electrical and thermal conductivity.
 4. The process according to claim 3, wherein said step of deposition of said dielectric layer comprises a step of depositing a dielectric layer having resistance value greater than approximately 10 GΩ/sq/mil, for example between approximately 10 and 20 GΩ/sq/mil and a thermal coefficient smaller than approximately 1.25 W/(mK), for example between approximately 1.04 (mK) and 1.25 W/(mK).
 5. The process according to claim 3, wherein said step of deposition of said dielectric layer comprises a step of depositing a UV curable paste.
 6. The process according to claim 3, wherein said step of formation of said L-shaped down metal structures comprises a step of deposition and definition of a first metal layer on said substrate.
 7. The process according to claim 6, wherein said step of formation of said L-shaped up metal structures further comprises a step of deposition and definition of a second metal layer, being different from said first metal layer.
 8. The process according to claim 7, wherein said step of deposition and definition of said first metal layer on said substrate comprises the steps of: patterning of said first metal layer by using a first photoresist layer and a photolithographic technique to realize first and second islands of said first metal layer on said substrate being suitable separated from one another; deposition of a second photoresist layer and subsequent patterning by using a photolithographic technique, said second photoresist layer covering only partially said first and second islands and an entire portion of said substrate being left exposed between such islands; and removal of said second photoresist layer with the formation of said first and a second down metal structure on said substrate, being L-shaped and separate by a gap in correspondence with said portion of said substrate being left exposed between said first and second islands.
 9. The process according to claim 8, wherein said step of definition and opening in said dielectric layer of upper contacts and lower contacts comprises the steps of: deposition of a third photoresist layer on said dielectric layer, patterning of said third photoresist layer, defining therein a plurality of openings in correspondence of upper ends of said L-shaped down metal structures; etching and removal of said third photoresist layer, thus defining said upper contacts; deposition of a fourth photoresist layer, also inside said upper contacts; patterning of said fourth photoresist layer defining a further plurality of openings in correspondence of lower ends of said L-shaped down metal structures; and etching and removal of said fourth photoresist layer, thus defining said lower contacts.
 10. The process according to claim 9, wherein said step of etching and removal of said fourth photoresist layer also defines first and second internal dielectric portions and first and second external dielectric portions of said dielectric layer, said first internal dielectric portion being positioned on a first down metal structure and in contact with a first L-shaped up metal structure, said first external dielectric portion being positioned between said first L-shaped up metal structure and said substrate and in contact with said first down metal structure as well as to a second down metal structure, said second internal dielectric portion being positioned on said second down metal structure and in contact with said first L-shaped up metal structure as well with a second L-shaped up metal structure, and said second external dielectric portion being positioned between said second L-shaped up metal structure and said substrate and in contact with said second down metal structure.
 11. The process according to claim 7, wherein said step of formation of said L-shaped up metal structures comprises the steps of. deposition of said second metal layer on said dielectric layer and within said upper and lower contacts; patterning of said second metal layer by using a fifth photoresist layer and a photolithographic technique; etching and removal of said fifth photoresist layer, thus defining said L-shaped up metal structures, being connected to said L-shaped down metal structures.
 12. The process according to claim 11, wherein said step of formation of said L-shaped up metal structures forms said L-shaped up metal structures in such a way that a lower end of a first L-shaped up metal structure is connected to a corresponding lower end of a first down metal structure and an upper end of said first L-shaped up metal structure is connected to an upper end of a second down metal structure, in turn having a lower end connected to a lower end of a second L-shaped up metal structure.
 13. The process according to claim 6, wherein said step of formation of said L-shaped down metal structures comprises a step of deposition of aluminium as said first metal layer.
 14. The process according to claim 7, wherein said step of formation of said L-shaped up metal structures comprises a step of deposition of gold as said second metal layer.
 15. A system for recovering heat of the type comprising a plurality of thermocouples, each comprising an L-shaped down metal structure and an L-shaped up metal structure being interconnected in correspondence of a first junction, said thermocouples are realized on a substrate by using a first and a second metal and connected in a serial mode covering a wide area of said substrate in a serpentine-like geometry by using the process according to claim
 1. 16. The system for recovering heat according to claim 15, wherein said substrate is made on a material chosen between silicon, ceramics, glass, plastic and the like
 17. The system for recovering heat according to claim 15, wherein said L-shaped down and up metal structures of each of said thermocouples are orthogonal to each other.
 18. The system for recovering heat according to claim 15, wherein said L-shaped down and up metal structures of each of said thermocouples are in line with each other.
 19. The system for recovering heat according to claim 15, wherein said thermocouples are dimensioned to minimize their contact resistance, the resistivity of the L-shaped down and up metal structures and the thermal conductivity of the thermocouples as a whole.
 20. The system for recovering heat according to claim 19, wherein said L-shaped metal down structures have a length between approximately 200 and 800 μm, for example approximately 600 μm, a width between approximately 100 and 200 μm, for example approximately 150 μm and a thickness between approximately 25 and 50 μm, for example 50 μm, and said L-shaped metal up structures have a length between approximately 50 and 150 μm, for example approximately 100 μm, a width between approximately 50 and 150 μm, for example approximately 100 μm and a thickness between approximately 50 and 100 μm, for example approximately 100 μm.
 21. The system for recovering heat according to claim 15, wherein said L-shaped down metal structures of said thermocouples are made of aluminium.
 22. The system for recovering heat according to claim 15, wherein said L-shaped up metal structures of said thermocouples are made of gold.
 23. An apparatus, comprising: a first member, having first and second ends and a middle, and operable to have a first temperature; and a second member disposed over the first member, having a first end electrically coupled to the second end of the first member, having a second end, having a middle, and operable to have a second temperature and to conduct a current from the first member in response to a nonzero difference between the first and second temperatures.
 24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the first end of the first member extends toward the second member farther from the middle of the first member than the second end of the first member.
 25. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the first end of the second member extends toward the first member farther from the middle of the second member than the second end of the second member.
 26. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the first member is L-shaped, the first end of the first member being adjacent to a shorter side of the first member, and the second end of the first member being adjacent to a longer side of the first member.
 27. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the second member is L-shaped, the first end of the second member being adjacent to a shorter side of the second member, and the second end of the second member being adjacent to a longer side of the second member.
 28. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the second member is U-shaped, the first end of the second member being adjacent to a longer side of the second member, the middle of the second member forming a base of the second member, and the second end of the second member being adjacent to a shorter side of the second member.
 29. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein: the first member comprises a first metal; and the second member comprises a second metal.
 30. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein: one of the first and second members comprises gold; and the other of the first and second members comprises aluminium.
 31. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the second end of the first member is in contact with the first end of the second member.
 32. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein each of the first and second members has a relatively high electrical conductivity and a relatively low thermal conductivity.
 33. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising: a substrate; and wherein the first member is disposed over the substrate.
 34. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising: a first dielectric region disposed over the first member and adjacent to the second member; and a second dielectric region disposed under the second member and adjacent to the first member.
 35. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising: a first dielectric region disposed over the first member, adjacent to the second member, and having a relatively low thermal conductivity; and a second dielectric region disposed under the second member, adjacent to the first member, and having a relatively low thermal conductivity.
 36. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising: a first dielectric region disposed over the first member, adjacent to the second member, and having a relatively low thermal conductivity; and a second dielectric region disposed under the second member, adjacent to the first member, having a relatively low thermal conductivity, and including a same material as the first dielectric region.
 37. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the second member is approximately aligned with the first member.
 38. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the second member is angled relative to the first member.
 39. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the second member is approximately perpendicular to the first member.
 40. A system, comprising: a first integrated circuit, comprising: a first member, having first and second ends and a middle, and operable to have a first temperature; and a second member disposed over the first member, having a first end electrically coupled to the second end of the first member, having a second end, having a middle, and operable to have a second temperature and to conduct a current from the first member in response to a nonzero difference between the first and second temperatures; and a second integrated circuit coupled to the first integrated circuit.
 41. The system of claim 40 wherein the first and second integrated circuits are disposed on a same integrated-circuit die.
 42. The system of claim 40 wherein the first and second integrated circuits are disposed on respective integrated-circuit dies.
 43. The system of claim 40 wherein one of the first and second circuits comprises a processor.
 44. A building, comprising: a component, comprising: a first member, having first and second ends and a middle, and operable to have a first temperature; and a second member disposed over the first member, having a first end electrically coupled to the second end of the first member, having a second end, having a middle, and operable to have a second temperature and to conduct a current from the first member in response to a nonzero difference between the first and second temperatures.
 45. The building of claim 44 wherein the component comprises a tile.
 46. The building of claim 44 wherein the component comprises a window.
 47. The building of claim 44 wherein the component comprises a wall.
 48. The building of claim 44 wherein the component comprises a floor.
 49. A method, comprising: causing a first member to have a first temperature, the first member having an end; and causing a second member to have a second temperature that is different from the first temperature such that a current flows through the first and second members, the second member being disposed over the first member and having an end electrically coupled to the end of the first member.
 50. The method of claim 47, further comprising impeding a flow of thermal energy between the first and second members.
 51. The method of claim 47 wherein the first end of the second member is in physical contact with the second end of the first member.
 52. A method, comprising: imparting a temperature differential across first and second members, the first member having an end, the second member being disposed over the first member and having an end electrically coupled to the end of the first member; and allowing a current to flow through the first and second members in response to the temperature differential.
 53. The method of claim 52, further comprising impeding a flow of thermal energy between the first and second members.
 54. The method of claim 52 wherein the first end of the second member is in physical contact with the second end of the first member.
 55. A method, comprising: imparting a temperature differential across first and second members, the first member having an end, the second member being disposed over the first member and having an end electrically coupled to the end of the first member; and allowing a current to flow through the first and second members in response to the temperature differential. 